Liu Yuexin stepped back cautiously, her right hand gripping the hilt of her sword tightly. She could feel the oppressive and malicious Qi radiating from the two young men. These were no ordinary martial artists!
"Who are you?" she asked coldly.
"Hahaha!" The taller one laughed aloud. "We are disciples of the 'Blood Cloud Valley.' Little lady... hand over the Silver Moon Grass, and we might let you live in peace... perhaps after we 'play' with you a little first."
Blood Cloud Valley! The name made her heart drop. It was one of the Unorthodox Sects, infamous for their ruthlessness and vicious dark arts!
"Dream on!" she shouted back, refusing to yield.
"Sharp tongue!" the second man barked. Before the words had even faded, both of them launched themselves at her from different directions with incredible speed!
Down below... Wang Cheng, witnessing the entire event, stood perfectly still. His expression remained impassive, but his eyes had long since activated the [Divine Diagnostic Eye].
[Zhao Feng]
[Affiliation: Blood Cloud Valley]
[Power Level: Qi Gathering Stage - Level 8]
[Technique: Blood Eagle Claw (Focuses on speed and piercing power)]
[Weakness: Stance becomes too wide when attacking; weak defense at the acupoint under the left armpit.]
[Li Hu]
[Affiliation: Blood Cloud Valley]
[Power Level: Qi Gathering Stage - Level 8]
[Technique: Poison Cloud Palm (Mid-range attack with poison Qi)]
[Weakness: Poison Qi requires a short circulation time in the palm before release; there is a one-breath interval gap.]
The enemy's data appeared perfectly in his mind!
"Little girl! Watch your left!" he shouted loudly.
Liu Yuexin, who was focusing on handling Zhao Feng's claws on the right, heard the warning and immediately kicked herself backward! In that split second, Li Hu's dark green palm struck the empty air where she had stood just a moment ago—missing by a mere hair's breadth! If she had been a fraction of a second slower, she would have taken that Poison Palm full force!
Cold sweat drenched her back... The enemies were far stronger than her! Both were at the 8th Stage of Qi Gathering, two full levels above her!
"You cannot fight the two of them head-on!" Wang Cheng's voice rang out from below, steady and commanding. "Use the 'Waning Moon' sword style that you are most skilled in! Do not focus on killing! Focus on defense and rhythm!"
His voice, strangely calm and confident, miraculously settled Liu Yuexin's panic-stricken heart. She took a deep breath, channeled all her Qi, and swung her sword in a silver arc like moonlight, barely managing to parry their combined attacks.
Clang! Clang!
She was pushed back two steps by their superior force, but she managed to keep her defense intact.
"Good!" Wang Cheng shouted in praise. "The one on the left... He's about to use the Poison Palm! The moment he raises his hand is your chance!"
Li Hu, seeing that ordinary attacks were ineffective, began to channel poison Qi into his palm, exactly as Wang Cheng had predicted!
"Stab his right wrist! Now!"
Liu Yuexin did not hesitate for a second. She trusted Wang Cheng's command with all her heart! She abandoned her defense against Zhao Feng for a moment, lunging forward like an arrow, her sword tip gleaming coldly as it thrust straight toward Li Hu's wrist!
Shling!
Li Hu screamed in pain! Her sword pierced halfway through his wrist! The Poison Palm he was about to unleash dissipated instantly!
But her action left her back completely exposed! Zhao Feng's Blood Eagle Claw came rushing in, aiming to tear her body to shreds!
"Duck! Spin and counter-stab at his left ribs!" Wang Cheng's voice cut through the air again, right on time!
Liu Yuexin moved on instinct. She dropped low rapidly, the deadly claw swiping just inches above her head! Simultaneously, she twisted her waist in a beautiful spin, whipping the sword back to thrust upwards at Zhao Feng's ribs!
Zhao Feng's eyes went wide with shock! He never thought she would dare use such a risky move! He tried to dodge, but it was too late!
Puchi!
Though not a fatal point, the sword tip plunged deep into his side!
"Arghhhh!"
Now, both disciples of the Blood Cloud Valley were injured! They looked at each other in disbelief before turning their gaze to the old man standing calmly below...
They understood immediately! The problem wasn't this little girl! The problem was that old man! He could see through every one of their movements and weaknesses!
"Kill the old guy first!" Zhao Feng shouted the order.
But Wang Cheng merely smiled coldly.
"Too late... Little girl... Use the final form... 'Full Moon'!"
As soon as his voice fell, Liu Yuexin yanked her sword free from the enemy. She channeled every last drop of her Qi for one final strike. The sword in her hand shone with a blinding brilliance before she spun, slashing out in a perfect circle!
A massive, silver crescent of Sword Qi materialized in mid-air!
The two disciples, injured and terrified, had no way to dodge!
Slash!
Their bodies were cleaved in two at the waist simultaneously! Fresh red blood sprayed into the air, dyeing the black cliff face a gruesome crimson!
Liu Yuexin stood panting heavily, her knees so weak she almost collapsed. But she had done it! She... had single-handedly killed two experts stronger than herself!
She looked down at Wang Cheng below with eyes filled with overwhelming complexity...
...In her eyes, Uncle Wang was no longer just a benefactor or a teacher.
He was... a God!